Random number generator

ABSTRACT

A random dice generator having a rack, a die table coupled to the rack, an arm rotatable coupled to the rack, a tumbler cup coupled to the arm opposite the arm coupling to the rack, and at least one image capture device. The arm can be rotatable between a loading position and a rolling position. The tumbler cup can receive at least one die when the arm is in the loading position and the tumbler cup releasing the at least one die into the die table when the arm is in the rolling position. The at least one image capture device determining the value of the at least one die received in the die table.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/004,069, filed May 28, 2014, the contents of which are entirelyincorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The subject matter herein generally relates to random number generation.More specifically, the subject matter herein relates to random dice rollgeneration.

BACKGROUND

Known random number generators use algorithms to generate numbers.Though algorithms can generate numbers, they cannot achieve purerandomness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by wayof example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a random dicegenerator;

FIG. 2 is a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a random dicegenerator;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a random dicegenerator;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment a rotatable arm;and

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of an exemplary embodiment of therotatable arm of FIG. 4 taken along line A-A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among thedifferent figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Inaddition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide athorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, itwill be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that theembodiments described herein can be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have notbeen described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevantfeature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale andthe proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustratedetails and features. The description is not to be considered aslimiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly orindirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarilylimited to physical connections. The connection can be such that theobjects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term“outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of aphysical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion ofa region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object.The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to theparticular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies,such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantiallycylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have oneor more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means“including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicatesopen-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group,series and the like.

The present disclosure is described in relation a random dice generatorhaving a rack, a dice table coupled to the rack, an arm rotatablecoupled to the rack, a tumbler cup coupled to the arm opposite the armcoupling to the rack, and at least one image capture device. The armbeing rotatable relative to the rack between a loading position and arolling position. The tumbler cup receiving at least one die when thearm is in the loading position, and the tumbler cup releasing the atleast one die into the dice table when the arm is in the rollingposition. The at least one image capture device can determine the valueof the at least one die received in the dice table.

In at least one embodiment the random dice generator can include a rackhaving a dice table and an arm rotatable between a loading position anda rolling position. The arm having a tumbler cup to receive at least onedie and release the at least one die into the dice table as the armrotations from the loading position to the rolling position. The rackcan have a plurality of dice table and rotatable arms coupled thereto.Each dice table can have more than one dice table section, and each armhaving more than one tumbler cup. Each dice table section rotationallyaligned with a tumbler cup and configured to receive at least one die asthe arm rotations from the loading position to the rolling position.

The at least one image capture device can be a camera and can beconfigured to capture more the face of the at least one die. In at leastone embodiment, the at least one image capture device captures the faceof the at least one die in each dice table section.

When the arm is in the rolling position the arm will knock the at leastone die out of the tumbler cup. A slip clutch will open the shutterbecause it is driven on the shaft of the arm. The opposing side of therandom dice generator can have an arm in the loading position. The twoarms can be mechanically linked to balance the system and reduceactuation forces. The at least one die can enter a funnel engaged intothe tumbler cup. The die slide into the tumbler cup, and the arm rotatesthe shutter into the closed position. The arm transitions from theloading position to the rolling position.

The random dice generator can have two die into each of six die tablesections per side. The machine can roll 12 dice per side, and generate aroll every 3 seconds.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment ofa random dice generator. The random dice generator 100 can have a rack101. A die table 102 and rotatable arm 105 can be coupled to the rack101. The arm 105 can be transitionable between a loading position 150and a rolling position 200. The arm 105 can have a tumbler cup 104coupled at one end. In the illustrated embodiment, the tumbler cup 104is coupled to the arm 105 at an end opposite the end coupled to the rack101.

The random dice generator 100 can have more than one die table 102 androtatable arm 105 coupled to each rack allowing numerous dicegenerations cycles. In the illustrated embodiment, the rack 101 has fourdie tables 102 and four rotatable arms 105 coupled thereto.

The tumbler cup 104 can have a tumbler shutter 106. The tumbler shutter106 can transition between an open position 155 and a closed position205 (shown in FIG. 2). In an open position 155, the tumbler shutter 106allows tumbler cup 104 to receive at least one die. In the closedposition 205, the tumbler shutter 106 prevents the at least one die fromexiting the tumbler cup 104. In at least one embodiment, the openposition 155 exists when the rotatable arm is in the loading position150 and the rolling position 200. The closed position 205, exists whenthe rotatable arm 105 is transition between the loading position 150 andthe rolling position 200.

The die table 102 can have dividers creating a plurality of die tablesections 108. In the illustrated embodiment, each die table 102 formsthree die table sections 108. Each die table section can receive atleast one die from the tumbler cup 104. The tumbler cup 104 can alsoinclude dividers to make more than one tumbler cup section correspondingto each die table section 108.

The random dice generator 100 can have at least one image capture deviceposition to capture the face of the dice in the die table 102. The atleast one image capture device can be a camera, a video camera, aninfrared camera, or the like. In at least one embodiment, the imagecapture device 110 can have a plurality of lenses each focused on a dietable section 108. In alternative embodiments, the at least one imagecapture device 110 can be positioned to capture each die table section108 simultaneously. In yet another embodiment, the at least one imagecapture device 110 can be a plurality of imagine capture devices 110position to capture the face of the at least one die. In the illustratedembodiment, one image capture device 110 is position above each dietable section 108.

The die table 102 can have a die table funnel 112. The die table funnel112 can act to direct the at least one die back into the tumbler cup 104when the arm 105 is in the loading position 200. In at least oneembodiment, the die table 102 can actuate to angle the bottom surface ofthe die table 102 toward the tumbler cup 104 to cause the at least onedie to pass through the funnel 112. In the illustrated embodiment, eachdie table section 108 has a separate die table funnel 112. Each dietable funnel 112 aligning with a tumbler cup 104 section.

The arm 105 can be actuated between the loading position 150 and rollingposition 200 by a lateral linkage 114, belt 116, and vertical linkage118. The lateral linkage 114 can couple to laterally adjacent arms. Thevertical linkage 118 can couple to vertically adjacent arms. The belt116 can couple vertically adjacent arms, horizontally adjacent arms, orall arms coupled to the rack 101. In the illustrated embodiment, therack 101 has two belts 116, each coupling vertically adjacent arms 105.In alternative embodiments, the rack 101 can have a single belt 116coupling all arms 105.

The rack 101 can also include a motor 120 to actuate the arm 105. Themotor 120 can be linked to a single arm 105 by a vertical linkage.Alternatively, the motor can be linked to the arm 105 by a belt 116. Themotor 120 actuates the arm 105 between the loading position 150 and therolling position 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a randomdice generator. The random dice generator 100 can have a die table 102having a plurality of die table sections 108. The tumbler cup 104 canhave a divider 1051 (shown in FIG. 5) creating corresponding sections toalign at least one die with each die table section 108.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an arm of a randomdice generator. The tumbler cup 104 can have dividers 1051 correspondingto dividers creating die table sections 108 (shown in FIG. 3). Thetumbler cup 104 can have a slip clutch 1052 to actuate the shutter 106between the open position 155 and the closed position 205. The shutter106 can actuate about shutter pivot 1053.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even thoughnumerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology havebeen set forth in the foregoing description, together with details ofthe structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure isillustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including inmatters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within theprinciples of the present disclosure up to, and including, the fullextent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A random dice generator comprising: a rack; a dietable coupled to the rack; an arm rotatable coupled to the rack, the armrotatable between a loading position and a rolling position; a tumblercup coupled to the arm opposite the arm coupling to the rack; and atleast one image capture device; wherein the tumbler cup receives atleast one die when the arm is in the loading position and the tumblercup releases the at least one die into the die table when the arm is inthe rolling position; wherein the at least one image capture devicedetermines the value of the at least one die received in the die table.2. The random dice generator of claim 1, wherein the rack has aplurality of die table and arms coupled thereto.
 3. The random dicegenerator of claim 1, wherein the rack is mirror image along alongitudinal axis.
 4. The random dice generator of claim 1, wherein thearm is actuated by a motor coupled to the rack.
 5. The random dicegenerator of claim 1, wherein the die table has a funnel attached on anexterior surface configured to urge die into the tumbler cup when thearm is in a loading position.
 6. The random dice generator of claim 1,wherein the die table has at least one divider forming die tablesections.
 7. The random dice generator of claim 1, wherein the tumblercup has at least one divider forming tumbler cup sections.
 8. The randomdice generator of claim 2, wherein the arms are mechanically linked toone other by at least one vertical linkage, at least one horizontallinkage, and at least one belt.